Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne saw his decision to bat first backfire on him at Bristol as his side closed a rain-hit opening day of the CricInfo Championship second division match with Warwickshire on 135-8.

After heavy showers delayed the start to 2.15pm, Warwickshire's pace attack took advantage of some moisture in the pitch and the humid conditions to rip through the Gloucestershire top order.

The home side found themselves on 39-5 at tea and it needed an unbeaten 53 from Jeremy Snape to restore some respectability to the total.

Melvyn Betts produced a fine opening spell of 6-4-10-2, which included the wickets of Kim Barnett and Matt Windows, caught at gully and first slip respectively for ducks.

Dominic Hewson hit a defiant 26, but he, Chris Taylor and Alleyne were all caught behind by Keith Piper.

Jack Russell provided some stubborn resistance before he played on against Alan Richardson for 12, and it became 86-7 when Martyn Ball was caught at second slip by Nick Knight off Betts for 13.

That was the cue for Snape to play some more aggressive shots and he brought up the hundred with a four through the covers off Betts.

Mike Cawdron offered solid support and the pair put on 49 runs for the eighth wicket before Cawdron was yorked by Vasbert Drakes for ten from the final ball of the day.

Snape, who has been in fine form with the bat over the past month, has so far struck eight fours in his 113-ball innings.

© CricInfo